Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  Avalanche - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By COY ALBRITTON - December 6 - 10:00 am

  The first avalanche I purchased was a Z66 2002, and another one, a Z71 2002, Kept the Z66 for 26 months with 34000 miles, traded for a 2004 Z66, plan to trade the Z71 soon for a 2005 Z71. I am 71 years and have driven Fords most of my life, The last Ford I had was a 2001 4X4 super crew at the time I purchased the first avalanche, six months later I traded for the Z71

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  brandons 04 impala indy ss - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By uptown - December 6 - 10:00 am

  The 2004 Impala SS is a superb performance sedan.The vehicle is strapped with 240 horsepower, 280 foot pounds of torque and a motor trend tested 0-60 in 6.5 seconds and 14.7 in the quarter mile at 92 m.p.h. bone stock.The SS also comes with many standard features as well as great options such as sunroof,driver information center,200 watt-6 speaker premium sound system,heated seats,xm radio,on star and indy commerative package.This Impala SS is a steal at a base price under 28,000 and just over 32000 for a fully loaded one with the indy package.

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  great - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By buk - December 6 - 10:00 am

  I like the overall design and performance.

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  AWESOME RIDE - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By KIDTAXI - December 6 - 10:00 am

  I love my Z71 Tahoe, it is a great value for the price, powerful yet easy to handle and a blast to drive!

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  HHR - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By lillie - December 6 - 8:03 am

  I love it. It drives good and handles good. Gets good gas mileage. Love to drive it. Had a big truck for six years. Had to get a car I could get in because of my health. Like this just as well.

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  cant beat this suv - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ferrari man - December 5 - 8:50 pm

  so far this suv has been bulletproof ,great gas mileage 28 mpg , plus this truck is very quiet and i suggest 4 cyl with front wheel drive 1 second quicker to 60 mph than awd

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  Problems already - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Mike 123 - December 5 - 7:16 pm

  I purchased this car used from a dealership, with 32k miles on it. I also own a 2005 Malibu sedan. I immediately noticed a clunking sound coming from the steering column when turning the wheel at low speeds. This is a sound I also noticed in my 2005 Malibu. I took it back to the dealer and they had to lubricate the intermediate shaft in the steering column. The shades to the sunroof also broke, so they ordered new ones for me as well. The car is comfortable, rides well and has good acceleration with the 3.5 liter V6. I dont understand how some people here are getting 29 mpg however, because I am getting about 18 mpg in mostly city driving. Disappointing mileage.

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  Wonderful Surprise - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By pwin - December 5 - 4:43 pm

  After being in a 2003 BMW 325i with countless problems and loud wind noise this car was a wonderful surprise. I test drove the Camry and Honda and was all set to purchase the Camry but after getting into the Malibu there was no turning back. I was not expecting to purchase an American car but when I got in it there was no comparison. the ride is smooth, quiet and the interior is the best. If Chevrolet can transform all their cars into one with this much quality the competition needs to watch out!

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  Maxx Versatility - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By G Fogle - December 4 - 5:40 pm

  Only major complaint is window guides that cause squeeking when raising/lowering windows. Had to dealer twice. Power is decent, mileage on highway exceptional - up to 34.5 mpg.

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  Trailblazer! - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By HoganRadial - December 4 - 2:43 pm

  Only have a 1000 miles on it, but boy its a nice ride so far. Really like the traction control/AWD/limited-4wd feature on the 4wd, perfect for those days the roads have scattered slippery spots, but not bad enough to use the full 4wd part. Very nice riding for a large SUV. The Vortec 4200 has plenty of power to get up & go.